Improvement in key-rings



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH H. SANFORD, OF BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND CHARLES F. SYLVESTER, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN KEV-RINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. [64,105, dated J une 8, 1875; application filed April 23,1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosEPn H. SANFORD, of Brockton, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tagged Key-Rings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

In said drawing, Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations, Fig. 3 an edge view, and Fig. 4 a transverse section, of a key-ring constructed and tagged in accordance with my invention.

Key-rings with which tags have been employed have heretofore had their tags made in flat bars or circular disks, and provided with small rings, by which they were affixed to, and suspended from, the key-ring.

The object of my invention is tosso construct the key-rin g and one or more tags, and so combine them together, as to constitute a single compact and useful article 5 and my invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of the parts, as herein after referred to and claimed.

In carrying out my invention I stamp out the ring A from a thin plate of steel by means of a die. The periphery of the ring I prefer to make circular, although such is not essential. The periphery of the ring is divided so that,while in its normal position, its ends shall abut, but still be capable of being bent or sprung laterally, so as to form an opening or joint of greater or less size, to readily admit the eye of a key. This ring I form of an unequal width. The body portion a, or that opposite the opening or joint of the ring, Imake of the greatestwidth,aud so as to be practicallyunyielding, and from such point taper the ring toward its ends, which, at such parts, are so contracted or reduced as to give them the desired flexibility and elasticity, and enable them to be readily bent laterally, so as to permit one end of the ring to be inserted in the eye of the key. The ring thus formed is to be tempered, so that after its ends may have been bent or sprung they will return to their normal positions.

In order to give greater strength to the ring, prevent it from breaking, and increase the torsion of the spring, I re-enforce the same, at the part where the greatest strength is required, with a plate or clamp of soft metal, such having a shape corresponding with the part of the ring to be reenforced.

In the drawing, 1) denotes such plate or reenforce, it being of a sectoral form, and of a sufficient width to fold over and lap upon the opposite side of the ring, as shown in Fig. 2. This plate I) also serves another purpose, viz., as a name-plate, on which the name or initials of a person may be readily engraved or stamped. ()n the said side of the ring, and between the folded edges of the plate 11, another tag or plate, 0, for receiving the address or business of a person may be located, such also serving to give additional strength to the re-enforced part of the ring, such latter tag or re-enforce being of a shape and 'width which will enable the edges of the plate I) to fold over upon the same, the whole being afterward compressed so asv to firmly hold the parts together.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. The improved key-ring, as described, the same having its body A formed of steel, and a re-enforce, b, of soft metal applied thereto, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. An improved key-ring, having its body A formed of steel, and re-enforced with the soft.- metal plates to and 0, and constructed and applied substantially as and for the purposes stated.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own invention, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH H.- SANFORD. Witnesses:

W. W. WILKINS, H. H. FILooN. 

